Nine arrested in Macedonian illegal arms workshop: police

(SKOPJE) - Macedonian police said Friday it had uncovered an illegal arms workshop and arrested nine people suspected of preparing and smuggling arms to European Union countries.

"Policemen have uncovered the illegal workshop in the (western Macedonian) village of Dzepiste, in which arms ... were being sold on the black markets of European Union and Macedonia," said an interior ministry.

"The police seized more than 1,200 pistols, four revolvers, six automatic guns, dozen bombs, 600 parts of ammunition of various calibres, sights and tools for weapon remodelling," the statement added.

Nine men were arrested on suspicion of being part of a criminal group selling arms in Macedonia and Western Europe for between 100 and 500 euros ($140-700) each, police said.